COVINA – Officials from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s station in San Dimas say Tuesday’s burglary involving seven people in unincorporated Covina was motivated by a debt related to methamphetamines.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Joseph McDonald said the burglary about 8 p.m. was the second incident to occur that day at the home in the 19800 block of Arrow Highway. Earlier, shortly before 1 p.m., two men burst into the home of a married couple and held one of the residents at knifepoint, demanding money the couple owed, McDonald said.

The two ransacked the house, but finding no cash, they stole the couple’s keys, Social Security cards and a camera.

The couple later went to the sheriff’s station and filed a report for the robbery. When they returned home, they discovered somebody was inside.

The couple returned to the sheriff’s station and informed deputies, who responded to the residence. After arriving, the deputies arrested the following seven people: David Gibbs, 27, of Azusa; Alexander Bond, 23, of Covina; Anoinette Ropke, 32, of Glendora; Jessie Vasquez, 37, of West Covina; Joshua Carle, 26, of Oregon, Phillip Hidalgo, 29, of Covina and David Herrera, 30, of Hesperia.

Deputies say Gibbs and Bond were directed by Ropke to commit the robbery earlier in the day. The three are being held on suspicion of home invasion robbery and burglary. The remaining five individuals are being held on suspicion of burglary.